Woking

Woking's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in housing tenure, religion and ethnicity.

The population passed 99,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Woking increased by 10%, from about 89,800 to 99,200.

The addition of just under 9,400 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Woking was home to, on average, 11 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Rise in private renting

Census 2011 data also show a housing tenure change in Woking.

The percentage of households in Woking that rented privately increased from 9.4% in 2001 to 16% in 2011.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 12%, while the percentage of Woking households that owner their home decreased from 76% to 71%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Woking increased by 6.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Woking, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Woking

The number of people in Woking that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 14,000 in 2001 to just under 23,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 23% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Woking that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 64,000 in 2001 to just over 58,000 in 2011 (from 71% to 59%). The number of people who described themselves as Muslim increased from just under 4,600 to just over 7,300 (from 5.1% to 7.4%).

Just under 7,300 people (6.8%) did not state their religion, up from just over 6,100 in 2001 (7.3%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Woking increased by 8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Woking by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Woking

The number of people in Woking from the White ethnic groups increased from about 82,000 in 2001 to about 83,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 91% to 84%.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Woking from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 5,600 in 2001 to just over 11,000 in 2011 (from 6.3% to 12%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 1,200 to about 2,300 (from 1.4% to 2.4%).

About 1,400 people (0.5%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 450 in 2001 (1.4%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Woking decreased by 7.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Woking by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Woking residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.9% to 3.4% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (86%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 74% in 2001. The percentage of Woking residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 10%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Woking decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Woking, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Woking working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.0% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Woking decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Woking, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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